Need to counter the growing global reach of ISIS

Islamic groups which are entering into the domains of terrorism and concerned terrorist activities, deem to be countered. The ISIS and Taliban, the two most active groups in the field of spreading Islamic teachings based terrorism. In the process of countering these groups as a wholesome need, it requires a strategic planning based military support. All the global powers must engage by providing their support and cooperation to counter terrorism.

These militant groups especially focus on ISIS, based out in Iraq and Iran has gathered enough momentum in the recent years. It has yielded way too mature militants who are working in order to gain Jihad. The militants are trained in various radical activities which they carry out on orders of their bosses. In simple terms, many are brainwashed to carry out such activities. The idea of global powers entering the field to counter the ISIS will reflect on their aims and impact they could cause to the terror group.

It has still not become inevitable to counter these huge terrorist organizations. But the efforts needed to couch it should be much advanced from the technology ISIS and others use. Internet, one of the main global spaces which are at best targeted by this group, can even be used in countering their impact. ISIS uses the internet in ways to promote its activities and influence Muslim community across the globe. In the same manner, this space could be used to counter the effects of their rise. The latest campaigns which are coming into focus online are a great source for anti-terror organizations to track terrorist activities. Some of the recent uploads by terror groups, especially ISIS, are being mentioned below. These tell us about their activities and also about how the anti-terror organizations around the world are reacting.

Al-Kataib Media Foundation, the external media department of the Somali militant Islamist group Harakat al –Shabaab al-Mujahideen has been producing and directing a film series from past 8 years. On 18 September, this group released its 8th series of film named: “They are the Enemy, so Beware of Them”. The beginning of the series was in 2012 and after that it had released many issues, focussing mainly on spy activities within the organization and even publicized the confessions made by spies. The eighth edition released by this group is bilingual. It features two issues. First one has been in English with subtitles in Swahili and the 2nd is in the Somali language. It gets it motive from a historic belief that, people who were part of following the Prophet and got converted to Islam were in reality secret enemies.

The video released, features confessions of three young people, who agree on being spying for Kenya and one in the case was for UK intelligence services. The names are featured as Abdullah Talal Musa, Abdul Aziz Mokaya Omambia (Kenya spy), and Hashim Othman Shelali (UK spy). Shelali being a UK intelligence spy was contacted by an intelligence officer in 2012, who asked him to work for him for USD 500 per week. In the video published, Shelali has been seen confessing about leaking the information to the intelligence officer that there are foreign fighters who hold millions of dollars. On a sharp contrast of faith and belief, the officer negates with the information and claims that no one would ever get this much amount of money. He adds that it is a method to trick would be informers for the UK intelligence services.

Since the news was of Shelali being captured by the terror group, the officer claims that there would be intervention from their side. But on the contrary, Shelali claims to just hold a negotiation between the two parties and claims to be granted a sum of USD 50,000 to be followed by USD 50,000, once the task assigned to Shelali would be completed.

The Al-Shabaab’s media operations continue to deter the records of spies spying on them. They have created a horror of execution videos of the spies and released online. This has created an environment of terror and has deterred the intelligence agencies from further sending spies in near timeframe. The main motive behind these video releases is that there should be no compromise with the internal security of the group and the threat detected should be overcome at the earliest possible.

Russia

There was news featuring on Facebook that, prominent Dagestani preacher-turned-Islamic State propagandist Nadir Abu Khalid (alias Nadir Medetov) had been killed in Iraq. Though, the organization or top terror leaders claimed that they have not received any such information officially but people living in Syria have claimed Medetov to be dead. One of the not so prominent members of Islamic State, but acting as a source of information, claimed that Medetov and his entire family was killed in an airstrike by getting buried under the rubble in Mosul. Medetov was an important and prominent figure in the Russian-speaking Islamic State. If he is dead, it is a great blow down to the Islamic state and would even cause the death of the supporters in a large number. Medetov was a Dagestani Salafist preacher dubbed the “Medina students” by Islamic State supporters. His role was prominent and held importance. The Islamic state’s Russian-language based group has used this group created or dubbed by Medetov to a far extensive level. There seems to be no news of Medetov from the Islamic state’s online social media platform, neither on Islamic state Telegram channels. This is a signal of a huge controversy as for the Russian speaking Islamic state which is fighting a battle for Mosul.

Moreover, there has been trouble period for the Islamic state’s Russian based terror group which has been operating on a large scale in Raqqa. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are working on a mission to overtake the city but unfortunately, they had to relocate their human resources and fighters’ families to the Syrian city of Al-Mayadin in Dier al-Zour governorate. There seem to be many obstacles for the militants of Russian speaking contingent. Many of them have been asked to shut down their social media accounts or either delete the account permanently.

These proceedings have caused an information barrier from Islamic state’s Russian contingent. As for example, taking the case of Medetov, there had been no real source speaking about his death or execution. Only the groups speaking; were not even present in Iraq or Syria. This has caused a great trouble for the Islamic State’s Russian contingent. There will be more and more future troubles if the issues related to the communication gaps are not resolved at the earliest.

Syria

The leak of video recordings of the major Syrian militant Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which happened in between the top commanders, has led to conflict between the militants. These videos were of utmost secret conversations and were released by one of the pseudonymous, ‘Khalid al-Shimali. This was not the first or only attempt made him of releasing such controversial videos, but even in past, nearly with a month gap, he had released two initial such videos.

There had been a serious tussle between the two rival militant groups in Syria’s northwestern Idlib governorate. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham had been in the tussle with rival militant group namely, Harakat Ahrar al-Shamal-Islamiyya. Both had a serious counter strike on between 18 and 21 July. Well, it was during this controversial period that, the video recordings of the commanders was released. It was for sure to make an impact on the militants who all consider their commanders as god (Messiah). The messenger or the messiah having conflictual talks amongst each other has caused the issue to be burning within the brains and hearts of militants. These recordings provide deep insights into the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s organizational settings and also functioning. The release also reveals the on-going tensions between the military commanders and its religious-judicial apparatus.

As of the history which tells us that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham was formed by the merger between former Syrian Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat Fath al-Sham. The release of videos so frequently has caused to highlight the issues of ongoing tensions between both groups and also Jabhat Fath al-Sham’s dominance over the other group. The newly released videos focus primarily on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s Idlib Emir Mughirah Abu al-Walid; the videos show his discontent attitude towards the senior Hayat Tahrir al-Sham religious figures interference in planned attacks on insurgents. His activities have created troubles and it has forced the top leaders to quit the group and even it has led him to a month’s imprisonment.

This seems to be a huge and developing controversy. It does not seem to end. The leak of videos and then the tussle between the two groups has led to instability in the organization and may even affect its future operations.

Global

On a global network, it is important for any organization to maintain its social media presence. Similarly, many terror organizations or militant groups take refuge in keeping the social media accounts for themselves. On one such day, the Islamic State’s official channel on Telegram released a link to Rumiyah, which is a magazine published by the group’s Al Hayat Media Centre. The magazine released was in multiple languages and dealt with issues like military and theological arguments. The released magazine holds significance in dealing with information which is classified to a limit. It provides access to various activities of the militant group and also informs about its current leaders. The magazine released was entitled “Allah cast terror in their hearts”, attached was a picture of a vehicle-impact attack in Barcelona. This seems to be the planned released. The impact of the magazine and especially this edition with such radical outfit will create an everlasting effect on the militant’s recruit and already enrolled. The basic motive of the magazine seems to be clear that, it propagates and encourages the militants in Syria and Iraq, providing them with the mental settlement that they are on the right track.

As it was a militant group based magazine, it was supposed to publish something which holds terror-related activity. And it does so. Mentioning of the Spain operation related to a bar near Las Ramblas square which was completely destroyed and devastated by the militants. It also mentions that the militants had taken refuge in a restaurant near the bar but, the latter sources defy this argument. With the intent of publishing articles in Rumiyah about the terror activities, the magazine also features Islamic State’s on-going and future endeavours. It mentions that there will be a steady increase in the operations of the militant group in the coming years. Much of the attention had been paid to the Islamic State’s missions within Syria and Iraq. They believe to intensify the operational activities within their home countries. All of the above just reflects upon the Islamic State’s desire to be global in its effect and cause and also to move far ahead of what it is today.